Johnson’s injury not as serious as feared

Dustin Johnson received some good news when a MRI revealed he had only suffered a deep bruise in a freak accident at his home last week.
The World No 1 sensationally had to withdraw from the Masters just moments before he was due to tee off after failing to recover from an injury he had suffered the day before.
Coming off three straight victories, Johnson was the hot favourite for the title, but fate had other ideas.
“One thing I never want to have to do again,” Johnson said, “is watch a major from my couch.”
The accident happened because Johnson was only wearing socks – something he says he never does – when he went to move his car after it started raining.
He slipped down the staircase, crashing onto his back and left elbow.
“It was terrible,” Johnson said. “And the weirdest part is, I never walk around in socks. For some reason if I walk around barefooted, my left foot starts to hurt. That’s why I always have shoes on. But I just got back from the gym and wanted to run down and move the car over. And I slipped.”
Johnson said he was in terrible pain.
“I thought I broke my back in half,” he said. “I really thought my back was broken.”
Johnson eventually recovered to the point where he thought he might be able to play, but really he was in denial right up until the final moment.
“The more I thought about it, there was no chance,” he said. “It just took a while to convince myself.”
The only silver lining was that the injury turned out to be not very serious. He had only suffered a deep bruise on the lower left part of his back.
He has already started working out again, and hopes to be back soon.
“I’m not really doing much,” Johnson said. “Today I started moving a little bit. Yesterday I did a little bit of chest and arms. Moving up and down, I’m fine. If I’m twisting, it’s a little sore. And I’m making some swings, but I’m not hitting any balls.”
As much as it hurt to have to watch the Masters from home, Johnson said he was happy for Sergio Garcia.
“Sergio and I are friends,” he said. “I was rooting for him. It was cool to see him get that first one. I know a little bit of what he’s been through. He’d been close quite a few times, just like I had been close. It took him a lot longer.”
Latest
-
News
Sponsor Ralph Lauren drops Justin Thomas following homophobic slur in Hawaii
The world number three uttered the derogatory word towards himself after missing a putt at Kapalua last weekend.
-
News
Bryson DeChambeau keeping brain relaxed to avoid repeat of Masters misery
DeChambeau said his brain went into overdrive at Augusta National.
-
News
European Tour preparing for business as planned in the Middle East
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship is due to start next week.
-
News
Two-time major champion Angel Cabrera arrested in Brazil
The former US Open and Masters winner was on the run from the law.
-
News
On this Day in 2013: Paul McGinley given Ryder Cup captaincy
McGinley would go on to be involved in a sixth Ryder Cup victory.
-
News
Collin Morikawa keen to draw inspiration from family ties to Hawaii at Sony Open
Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas has withdrawn from the event after testing positive for coronavirus.
-
News
R&A: ‘No plans’ for Open to head to Donald Trump-owned Turnberry in near future
Trump National in Bedminster was on Sunday stripped of next year’s US PGA Championship.
-
News
US PGA Championship moved from Donald Trump-owned course in New Jersey
Trump National in Bedminster had been set to host the event.
-
News
Justin Thomas : ‘I made a terrible, terrible judgement call’
Thomas admitted he was distracted by what happened on Saturday during his final round.
-
News
PGA Championship to be moved away from Donald Trump-owned course
It is the second time in six years the PGA has moved an event away from a course owned by Donald Trump.